2014 Sponsors

This year’s campaign would not have been successful without the contribution of some fellow creatives and business owners who support our work.

Shelvia Stewart– $500 Contribution

Vanessa Williams– Undisclosed Amount

Tichaona Chinyelu (Writer)– $100 Contribution

Tichaona has traveled throughout the United States with sojourns in California and Illinois. She currently lives in Massachusetts where she is hard at work raising her son and building Whirlwind Publishing. She started writing poetry as a teenager, and continues to write as an extension of her desire to reduce the impact of colonialism and neocolonialism on the lives of Africans. She has been part of the Liberated Muse arts extended online community since its inception in 2008. She is a second-time contributor to the IN HER WORDS campaign and greatly appreciated for her graciousness.

BlackStar works with many types of clients: small- to medium-sized nonprofits, start-ups, small businesses, groups interested in working more effectively together and individuals who want to more effectively reach their personal and professional goals. Learn more at BlackStarConsultingDC.com.

Nia Simmons (Singer/Songwriter)– $30 Contribution

Singer Nia Simmons’s name may sound familiar because she was part of the IN HER WORDS cast for two years prior. She portrayed Lena Horne during the first two years and stepped away to build her career as an independent recording artist. She currently has two singles available on iTunes, Amazon.com and other online retailers, including her latest single, “Used to You”. Learn more about her at NiaSimmons.com

Maulana Steele(Business Owner/Nonprofit Executive)– $25 Contribution

Maulana is a second-year contributor to IN HER WORDS and we appreciate her deeply! She is owner of OversightManagement.com and founder of the nonprofit Helping EnrichDC.

The mission of Helping Enrich DC is to engage learning in a hands-on, interactive environment. By empowering youth and adults with ongoing skills necessary to successfully acquire a higher education and, subsequently, a future career, we strive to encourage each individual, youth and adult, to exceed their expected potential.

Oversight Management provides nonprofit organizations with accounting services in order to help them manage their financial resources more accurately, efficiently and effectively. From short-term consulting projects to regular, ongoing services, we can help get your financial house in order. Learn more here.

Scot Reese is a professor in the Theater department at the University of Maryland’s flagship campus in College Park, MD. His areas of specialty are Directing, Black Theatre and Performance, and Musical Theatre. Professional theatre credits include productions from Los Angeles to New York. Television credits include daytime dramas, situation comedies, variety specials, and commercials. Recent credits include premiere’s of Colossal, Embrace,Etudes for the Sleep of Others, and Blues Journey at the Kennedy Center; the premiere’s of The Waiter and Blackballin‘ at Arena Stage; 24/7, 365 at the Theatre of First Amendment; Dr. of Alcantara at Strathmore Music Center; Once On This Island and Crumbs From the Table of Joy at the Round House Theatre; Pretty Fire and From the Mississippi Delta for the African Continuum Theatre Company; The Heidi Chronicles and Barefoot in the Park (with Laura Linney and Eric Stoltz) at LA Theatre Works; A Raisin in the Sun at Olney Theatre Center.

Tracy was the first actress to portray Zora Neale Hurston in our production of IN HER WORDS in 2012. Her continued support each year since then as a campaign contributor means more than words can express. Tracy moved on after our 2012 season to shop her literary manuscript after she landed an agent almost immediately. She is a Community Activist, Passionate Writer, & Cultural Enthusiast. She attended Catholic University School of Law, Georgetown University, and San Francisco University High School. She was rooted in Chicago, Illinois, raised in Mt. Holly Arkansas, nourished in San Francisco, California, and stirred in Washington, DC. Tracy is taking lessons in life and sharing what she learns along the way. Learn more about her here.

Jamal Blair (Filmmaker)– $25 Contribution

Jamal Blair wrote and directed his first full length independent film Big Numbers at the age of 21, with a budget of under $5000.00.

Soul Pixie Productions (Etsy Seller, Music)– $25 Contribution

Soul Pixie Productions is the company owned by singer Quineice. She portrayed Billie Holiday in 2012 and 2013 during the IN HER WORDS tour. Quineice‘s phenomenal vocal ability has often been compared to some of the greatest vocalists of all times– from Aretha Franklin and Phyllis Hyman to Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. Quineice is currently working on her new CD release, with an anticipated release date of Summer 2014.

The SoulPixie Cache ™ is owned by Quineice. She has always been passionate about. Fashion! Prices range from $5 and up with labels such as Gucci, Ferragamo, St. John, Givenchy, Judith Leiber, Escada, Ungaro and so much more! This is a place for all frugal fashionistas; you never know what you will find! Click here for more info.